NCSTC Rajat Jayanti Science Communicator Fellowship 2009

Rajat Jayanti Vigyan Sancharak Fellowship

Proposals are invited for twenty Rajat Jayanti Vigyan Sancharak Fellowships instituted by Rashtriya Vigyan Evam Pradyogiki Sanchar Parishad, Department of Science & Technology. The Fellowship recognizes Science Communicators with uniformly brilliant academic record and field work. It also supports innovative Science Communication efforts in selected scientific institutions/universities/S&T based voluntary organizations under the guidance of a senior science communicator.

The candidates below 35 years on 31.12.2009 (relaxable by 5 years for Women) must possess a graduation or higher degree in science, engineering, medical science, agriculture, information technology, mass communication etc. from a recognized university.

The duration of the fellowship will be for one year and will comprise honorarium of Rs. 12000/- per month (16000/- in case of a Ph.D) and an annual contingency of Rs. 30000/- and travel grant of Rs. 15000/-. Mentors will receive Rs. 20000/- in a year. Applicants are requested to carefully study Annexure I-V before submitting the proposal.

The selection will be made by a committee of experts and decision of DST will be final.

Send Your Proposal and supporting documents to:

Head (RVPSP), Department of Science & Technology

Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi – 110016

Email sanuj[at]nic.in, ahujas[at]nic.in

Phone: 011-26866675

Last date for receiving completed applications is 15th April 2009.

Illustrative list of projects ideas

• Impact assessment of science outreach programmes developing and using innovative instruments.
• Developing and testing scripts for biodiversity, street theater for raising awareness on health, sanitation, water, etc.
• Developing modules for trainers in use of low-cost learning/teaching aids for high school science teachers.
• Developing strategies for promoting innovation among school teachers/students.
• Comparative study on effectiveness of different means of communication
• Developing and updating website on popular science.

For More Details and Application Form visit:

http://www.dst.gov.in/whats_new/what_new09/rajat-jayanit-09.pdf

Science Writing Fellowships at Current Science

S. Ramaseshan Science Writing Fellowships at Current Science
The Current Science Association has instituted Science Writing Fellowships in memory of Professor Sivaraj Ramaseshan for his contributions to the journal Current Science. The fellowships are initially awarded for a period of one year, extendable for a further period of one year.
Qualification: Candidates must possess a basic degree in any branch of science. Candidates with postgraduate (after B.Sc.) degree in literature, journalism or mass communication can also apply for the fellowship.
Desirable: A flair for writing and wide interest in diverse areas of science. Age: Not more than 50 years as on 1 April 2008. The candidates should not have any position (full time or part time) that entitles to any remuneration.
Job description: Selected candidates will be expected to write for the News, Research News, and General sections of the journal Current Science on a regular basis. Candidates may be based in any part of India but must have access to science libraries, journals and the Internet. Candidates based in Bangalore are expected to assist the editorial staff in the publication of Current Science.
Fellowship: Selected candidates would be offered a fellowship in the range Rs 8000 to Rs 12,000 depending on qualification and experience. Applications, which must include a detailed CV and reprints of popular science publications, must be sent to
Executive Secretary,
Current Science Association
P.B. No. 8001
Sadashivnagar P.O.
Bangalore 560 080

Applications can be submitted, however, these will be considered in April 2009.
Source: http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/rswf.pdf

Fourth Summer School on Philosophy for the Social Sciences and Humanities

(Sponsored by ICSSR Western Regional Centre, Mumbai)

Organized by: Centre for Philosophy, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore

A three-week summer school for MA, MPhil and PhD students from all over the country will be held at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore.

Dates: Monday, June 8, 2009 -Friday, June 26, 2009.

Who can apply: MA, MPhil and early PhD students working in the broad areas of social sciences and humanities (including philosophy).

How to apply: Send a CV (with marks, email, phone and contact address details) along with an essay/working paper that you have written. The last date for receiving
the complete application is March 15, 2009.

Accommodation and travel
Selected students will be reimbursed for their outstation travel by Non- AC, sleeper class train or bus fare (to and fro) and will also be provided accommodation free of
cost at NIAS during the course period.

Contact: Send your application as an email attachment to Centre for Philosophy, NIAS, email: cfpnias@gmail.com or mail a hard copy to the address below:
Centre for Philosophy
National Institute of Advanced Studies
Indian Institute of Science Campus
Bangalore -560 012
Telephone: +91-80-22185000

More information

Applications Invited: Summer Workshop on Quantitative Methods in Political Science

Lokniti - Programme for Comparative Democracy, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), Delhi, in collaboration with Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Shimla invites candidates to apply for a two week Summer Workshop on Research Methodology: Analyzing Quantitative Data on Indian Politics to be held at Shimla from Monday, 15th June 2009 to Saturday, 27th June 2009.
Research training in Political Science remains one of the weakest aspects of learning for any student in India. Keeping this in view we plan to bring together a group of young political scientists with the aim of providing them an opportunity to improve their skills in quantitative analysis. While some of our mid-career colleagues would be invited to attend the summer school, we will select candidates from across the country for the limited seats that are available through a process of competitive selection. In this Summer School there will be a special emphasis on making sense of quantitative data of both aggregate nature and survey data for analysis of Indian politics. The selected participants will be given a set of readings before they come to attend the workshop and will be expected to attend lectures and practical data analysis sessions. This is the Third Summer School being organized by CSDS and IIAS beginning in 2007. Some of the leading scholars working on empirical methods in Political Science have been involved in designing this summer school and will act as resource persons. These include Pradeep Chhibber (University of California at Berkeley), Peter deSouza (IIAS, Shimla), Irfan Nooruddin (Ohio State University), Yogendra Yadav (CSDS), Suhas Palshikar (University of Pune) and Sandeep Shastri (IACT).

• We invite the following categories of candidates to apply for this workshop:
• Teachers of Political Science in colleges and Universities who are working on empirical subjects and would benefit from further training.
• Research students of Political Science who are working on empirical themes for their M. Phil. or Ph. D. dissertations and can benefit from further training.
• Any other person (including those from outside Political Science and outside academia) who are interested in making sense of politics by analyzing quantitative data.

We would give preference to young scholars. We have only about 16 seats to be filled through selection and we expect a tough competition. Please send your detailed CV with a statement of research interest (those already registered for M. Phil. or Ph.D. should clearly mention the topic of dissertation along with a brief summary of the objectives and methodologies used) in about 500 words. Applicants should also visit our website http://www.lokniti.org/index.htm; access the questionnaire used for National Election Study 2004 and write a 500 word Note on a research question based on this questionnaire that interests them. Selection for the workshop will be made on the basis of the two write-ups submitted by candidates as mentioned above. The last date for receiving the nomination/application is 23rd March 2009. We will not entertain any nominations/applications received after the above-mentioned date.

The Summer School is sponsored by the IIAS and the Institute will meet the travel expenses (Train AC II or its equivalent) of the participant from his/her place of residence to Shimla both to and fro. IIAS will also provide free accommodation and food during the Summer School. Please note that this is a full time residential training course and candidates admitted to the workshop are expected to stay at the Institute and engage in full time work on all days during this period. Please send your nominations/applications by email to banasmita[at]gmail.com or by snail mail to:
The Co-director
Lokniti: Programme for Comparative Democracy
Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS)
29 Rajpur Road, Delhi 110 054. India

Source: http://www.lokniti.org/summer_workshop_at_shimla2009.html

CSSP Seminar “Emerging Knowledge Economy India: A European View of the Indian NKC”

Centre for Studies in Science Policy
SEMINAR SERIES

"Emerging Knowledge Economy India:
A European View of the Indian National Knowledge Commission"

By
Dr. Waltraut Ritter
Research Director, Knowledge Enterprises, Hong Kong; &
Adjunct Faculty, International School of Information Management at the University of Mysore

Venue: Room no. 227, SSS (I), JNU
Time: 4.00 P.M.
Date: 5th February 2009

Abstract
The lecture will discuss the functions and goals of the NKC and discuss the role of NKC in advancing India’s position as knowledge economy, which is, according to the World Bank Knowledge Economy index, quite low in the overall ranking, however, leading among South East Asian countries. She will also discuss NKC from a European Perspective based on the OECD KBE framework.

National Knowledge Commission Launches Online Contest

NKC's recommendations have been crafted to achieve the objective of tapping into India's enormous reservoir of knowledge, mobilising national talent and creating an empowered generation with access to tremendous possibilities for the 550 million youth.
To accelerate the process of reform and to create a groundswell of public opinion, NKC invites everyone to Online Contests.

Contest Period: 1 February – 1 March 2009

Categories: Film, Debate and Essay
Film Topic: Make a short film (not exceeding 6 mins)
1) How can I make a difference in transforming India
Debate Topics: Give your opinions in video format (not exceeding 4 mins each)
1) India will realise its demographic dividend in the next 15 years
2) Vocational education and training courses should be introduced in all schools
Essay Topics: Write your views (not exceeding 2000 words each)
1) How can India unleash its innovation and entrepreneurship potential?
2) Expansion, excellence and inclusion – the three challenges of the Indian education system

Important Dates
Contest Begins: Feb 1, 2009
Contest Closes: March 1, 2009
Results Declaration: March 10, 2009

Prizes
Winners get to meet Mr. Sam Pitroda
Cash Prizes of more than INR 1.5 lakhs
Certificates to first 500 entries
Log on to http://knowledgeportal.in/contests to participate